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Do you have a busy schedule?
Most of us, especially when Spring and Summer roll around, seem to have little time to cook or plan meals.
Winter is a little more low-key because we tend to stay closer to home. At least people in the North like I do and therefore have healthy snacks much more frequently.
In this article, we are going to change all of that. After you’ve read my top 5 healthy snacks, you will be well on your way to creating a menu of quick and easy snacks to keep you and your family’s health on track no matter which season it is.
Tuna Cucumber Cups
Prep time 10min. The number of servings depends on the size of your cucumber.
ingredients:
- English cucumber or fresh cucumber from your garden, 1 cut into 1” pieces.
- Black pepper, 1 tsp. (optional)
- Solid white albacore tuna, 5oz can in water drained.
- Mayonnaise, 1/3 cup
- Fresh dill for flavor or as a garnish, 1 small sprig.
directions:
- Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out the inside of each 1” piece of cucumber, being sure to leave a bottom in them. Once you have made little cups, drain the extra cucumber juice from the cucumber you’ve scooped out and then chop the remaining cucumber into little pieces.
- In a glass mixing bowl, put your chopped cucumber, mayonnaise, tuna, black pepper, and mix. Add additional pepper and mayonnaise after you’ve tasted the mix if you feel it’s necessary.
- Using a paper towel, dab the inside of the cucumber if you feel it’s too runny. Put tuna mixture into cups, add your sprig of dill on top, and they are ready!
Peanut Butter and Celery
Prep time, 5 min. Serving size depends on the amount of celery used.
ingredients:
- Celery, 1 stock.
- Peanut butter of choice. Smooth, natural or chunky.
directions:
- Take your stock of celery and wash it in fresh, clean water.
- Cut your celery into the desired length. I cut mine into 2” or 3” pieces.
- Using a knife, spread your favorite peanut butter in the middle of the celery and serve.
There are variations where you can add raisins on top or mix your peanut butter with yogurt and cinnamon. Ultimately let your imagination and taste buds be your guide.
Fruit Kabobs
Prep time, 15min. Serving size depends on the amount of fruit used.
ingredients:
- Kabob sticks, 1 pack.
- Fruit of choice, an equal amount.
directions:
- Have a platter of some kind ready.
- Open your kabob sticks and set them next to your platter.
- Wash all your fruit in fresh, cool water and strain.
- Depending on what fruit you’ve chosen cut in half, leave whole or cut into cubes.
- With all your fruit in a bowl or separate bowls, place your fruit on your kabob in a colorful manner.
- Stack on your platter when you’re finished, and they are ready to enjoy!
These are great to eat outside where you don’t have to worry about a mess. Just set a bag of baby wipes or a damp washcloth handy where your family can easily clean up their sticky hands afterward :).
Apple Wedges with Cheese
Prep time, 15min. Serving size depends on the number of apples used.
ingredients:
- Apples, desired number, cored and sliced into wedges.
- Cheese of choice, 1 slice per apple wedge.
directions:
- Wash and core your apples.
- Slice into wedges.
- Take your cheese of choice and cut it into thin slices
- Place cheese on apple wedge and eat.
For a bonus make a yogurt and cinnamon dip that you can spread on your apple before topping it with cheese.
Yogurt and Cinnamon Dip
Prep time 5 min. Serving size, 1 cup.
ingredients:
- Homemade or purchased from the store plain Greek yogurt, 1 cup.
- Honey, 1 Tablespoon.
- Cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon or to taste.
directions:
- Measure your 1 cup of Greek Yogurt and place in a glass bowl.
- Add your honey and cinnamon and mix.
- Use as a dip for fruit snacks or vegetables.
Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites
Prep time 50min. Serving size depends on the number of bananas used.
ingredients:
- Bananas, 3 to 4.
- Dark Chocolate, 1 bag.
directions:
- Peel and slice your bananas to desired thickness.
- Flash Freeze your bite-sized banana pieces for about 15min. on a pan with parchment paper.
- While banana bites are freezing, melt your chocolate over low heat so you don’t scorch the chocolate. Melt until chocolate is smooth and remove from heat.
- Pull your banana bites out of the freezer.
- Using small tongs, grab each piece and dip half of the banana in the melted chocolate and place back on the cookie sheet with your parchment paper.
- Repeat this process until your chocolate or banana bites are all used.
- Freeze until the chocolate has solidified, about 30min.
- Once they are frozen, take the pan out and move your chocolate banana bites to an airtight freezer. Store until you are ready to eat them.
For added flavor, add peanut butter in between two banana bites and freeze for an hour. When dipping in chocolate, cover the entire banana. When you’re ready to eat, to keep your little fingers clean, use a toothpick and you have a mess free snack.
These take a little extra time to prep, but once you’ve finished you or your kids can grab them in a matter of seconds. For this reason, I tend to do a bigger batch so they last longer.
With these new recipes, you can now snack your way to health.
Cheers- Heather Earles
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